Will Smith announced in a statement Friday that he has resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
According to LA Times, the resignation letter read:
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” the statement said. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”
Academy President David Rubin confirmed that Smith’s resignation had been accepted. In a brief statement Friday, Rubin added: “We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18.”
The decision means that Smith, 53, will no longer be a voting member of the Academy. However, he will still retain his Oscar for best actor, can be nominated for future consideration by the Academy, and can still be invited to future ceremonies.
President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, David Rubin, confirmed that the Academy had “received and accepted” Smith’s resignation in a statement to NBC News. However, disciplinary proceedings against the actor for violating the standards of conduct will still occur during the Academy’s upcoming board meeting on April 18.
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Smith’s resignation came days after he slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony on Sunday for poking fun at his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s medical condition, Alopecia.
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